The Mayor Wants a Ring: 2008 Red Sox Thread

It seems like he would be worth $8M just to pitch in the playoffs. Though it certainly isn't guaranteed that they will make it.

Schilling out until All-Star break, at least

Let's see what you got, Clay!

Laptops?

it's blowback week in boston

youk in

Throughout, Bush was effusive in his praise for the Red Sox franchise.

"I love the fact that you've got some of the game's biggest stars. I mean, 'Big Papi,' the guy lights up the screen," Bush said of Ortiz. "He brings a great personality."

But he couldn't help but note the absence of Manny Ramirez, who also did not attend the first Red Sox visit to the Bush White House after the 2004 World Series.

"I'm sorry [Ortiz'] running mate, Manny Ramirez, isn't here. I guess his grandmother died again," Bush quipped, drawing laughter form he crowd but quickly adding, "Just kidding. Tell Manny I didn't mean it."

I love Papi in his suit and glasses:

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/02/27/1204147306_9293.jpg

"I'm sorry [Ortiz'] running mate, Manny Ramirez, isn't here. I guess his grandmother died again," Bush quipped, drawing laughter form he crowd but quickly adding, "Just kidding. Tell Manny I didn't mean it."

-classy. what an ass.

Jesus Christ what an asshole.

Is there some context to that comment that makes it less awful?

maybe if he was about to get taken out by a sniper we wouldn't be quite as outraged by it. that's all i can think of.

papi looks like rosey grier in that photo.

Good for Manny.

Worst President in the History of the US being Worst President in the History of the US

ha hahha!

wait a minute, we have colon????!

RED SOX: WE HAS A COLON

haha yeah, it's the biggest news so far in ft myers.

Red Sox mob beats up Yankees fan in Cambridge

red sox threaten to boycott japan trip unless coahes are paid
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-BBA-Red-Sox-Boycott.html?_r=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

surprise! they got the money
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/sports/AP-BBA-Red-Sox-Boycott.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

6 a.m. ET starts, the unemployed Sox fans don't even hafta go to bed

10am here!

F*(&*&(&£(**ing MLB.TV won't let me watch the game! Blackout restrictions?!??!

TITO TO THE PITCHING MOUND
TITO TO THE PITCHING MOUND

That's bizarre that the Red Sox play two regular season games in Japan and then have to play an exhibition game at the Coliseum before resuming regular schedule.

I'm not complaining, what with the Cubs' cupcake inter-league schedule this year.

This is a good game.

Keep Drew on the bench!

I just found out about Moss's home run through his wikipedia entry.

Who the hell watches a ballgame and thinks, "shit, I gotta go update wikipedia now"!

Oh, funny: DirecTV's signal for ESPN2 was out this morning; and ONLY ESPN2! I saw some of it on the "Sports Mix" channel where the image was one of six on the screen...

i just watched the 10th - my dad called me and started talking abt it and i was all what baseball is starting... in japan?

uh anyway papelbon did not look sharp there. at all.

also this moss guy who is he.

Jack Cust with a 4 "Perfect Outcomes" day

WOOOOO. Didn't see any of this cause I couldn't wake my ass up, caught some on radio but not the exciting parts.

Moss is a somewhat athletic 4th outfielder-type. 282/363/471 in AAA last year. Would totally be a backup OF on the '08 Sox except like Drew and Ellsbury he bats lefthanded.

wanted to watch this afternoon today on mlb.tv. i amazingly avoided knowledge of the outcome all morning by steering clear of the news, baseball fans, radio, mlb front page, facebook. went directly to the mlb.tv schedule page so as not to accidentally catch wind of the score, and that's when i stumbled upon mlb.tv's newest feature. Results of the game right there on the schedule, so there's no way to watch any archived game without knowing!
arrgh. sounded really exciting

lol nice one mlb.tv

Haha some of the ESPN Classic baseball rebroadcasts used to have in-game spoiler "trivia" as well.

Apparently ESPN2 was out on DirecTV in much of the country, incl New England (NESN to boot):

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9902581-7.html

Ramirez was presented with an oversized check for 1,000,000 yen (about $10,000) for being MVP of the game and smiled as he held it up on a stage placed near the mound. He also gets a color laser printer

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/03/25/sports/baseball/25redsox.span.jpg
gimme that printer!

Professional hitter Sean Casey steps up w/ new facial hair. Phillips: "He wants a ring."

GIDP, oh well.

No shame in a tough game against Harden, who to this point is a health tragedy on the level of Wood or Prior (despite no one caring about Rich Harden).

Cue Shaughnessy column talking up the team's all-too-obvious shortcomings, and how they'll disappoint RSN yet again.

hey, i'm in CT visiting the family just in time to watch the Coliseum game.

"But they soared TOO HIGH...!"

xp

the defensive alignments for this game are from a beer league!

What is douchebaggery?

Given that BBTF is inundated w/ Sox fans, that's pretty rich (and creamy).

Tho there is one dude that will insist with a straight face and a Geir-like determination that:

1) Pedroia is better than Jeter
2) Ellsbury is comparable with Grady Sizemore

... so he's got more than enough Massengill in his shtick for 75% of RSN.

The hidden link being that Wiki Gonzalez is a creation of Baseball Think Factory, you see.

Statcock.

The player?

I just heard that Manny hit an inside the park home run but in the box it was scored a triple and he advanced home to score on a throwing error.

Dice is lookin' good so far this year.

Dice-Yay!

Keep Drew on the bench!

lol

Drew sounded not-totally-retarded/lame/whatever on the radio yesterday. I don't think I had ever heard him talk.

He opened last season on a tear as well so who knows where this is going but a bounceback season would be really, really great.

YANKEES' WANG STIFLES RED SOX

WANG MAKES SOX CHOKE

Manny Ramirez began the game 13-for-22 against Wang and David Ortiz was 15-for-30. But they were hitless in six at bats with three strikeouts and a double play because of the Wang.

i call bullshit on this rain delay...

the fuck is wrong with ortiz anyways?

Tigeritis

http://www.surveyusa.com/index.php/2008/04/09/boston-time-to-forgive-buckner/

matsuzaka really seems afraid to challenge guys. how the hell does he get so many k's?

He's been all over the place tonight. When he's on, it seems impossible that he can ever have nights like this.

is gamecast lying to me or did manny really have an infield single?

hey chin up dudes, we've got guys injured, ortiz can't get going, and we're STILL... oh wait we're in last place.

Uh, we're ahead of the Yankees. Please save the Debbie Downer act for mid-August, when the Red Sox traditionally spit the bit.

Mizz: I think Manny's magical infield single was a hotshot that hit off an infielder's glove and trickled into short left-center.

82% of Boston-area adults say former Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner should be forgiven, according to an exclusive WBZ-TV News poll conducted by SurveyUSA.

the rest of my post completely stolen from cstb:

Struck by the glowing reports of Bill Buckner’s tearful return to Fenway Park Tuesday afternoon, Lyflines writes, ” I, for one, am sick and tired of the story, and the implication that “Red Sox nation” consists entirely of petty, maladjusted, immature spoiled brats who drove one of the great players in a Red Sox nation out of the area because of one simple mistake. It’s media storylining, and the storyline is even less accurate than most media storylines. It’s nonsense, and I’m sick of it.” (link swiped from Baseball Musings)

And rightfully so, as Lyflines points out (quoting none other than CHB), Buckner was on the Red Sox roster for Opening Day 1990 and received a “long and loud ovation”.

“When Red Sox fans talk about game six,” insists Lyflines, “John McNamara, Roger Clemens (if one believes McNamara, that he ‘asked out’), Calvin Schiraldi, Rich Gedman and Bob Stanley all take more abuse than Buckner”. Well, that’s Kevin Mitchell off the hook, then.

Was Buckner “driven out” of the Boston area by fan abuse? I’ve never seen any evidence of it. There are, obviously, morons everywhere, the Boston area being no exception. But I’m extremely skeptical that he somehow took so much abuse that he had no choice but to leave. This is a guy who grew up in California, spent 7 years with the Dodgers, 8 with the Cubs, but somehow, the fact that he didn’t spend the rest of his life in Boston or Wakefield or Andover after spending two full seasons and three partial with the Red Sox is evidence of fan derangement. I’m not buying it. Again, were there individual incidents of unpleasantness? Sure - I’ve had individual incidents of unpleasantness in the Boston area and no one knows who the hell I am. But was the Red Sox fan base, as a group, somehow so unreasonable and disagreeable that he was “driven out” of the area? Do Red Sox fans as a group owe him an apology? I don’t think so. I certainly don’t, and I’m not going to.

(And he didn’t warrant any of those positive reactions for his performance, either. He hit .279/.315/.410/.725 while playing 526 games for the Red Sox, primarily at 1st base and DH, with an OPS+ of 94. He led baseball in outs in 1986, while playing at a primarily offensive position. He was much, much worse as a Red Sox than someone like, for example, J.D. Drew.)

No word yet if Steve Bartman or Billy Sianis and his pet goat will be joining him for today's festivities.

http://bostonist.com/2008/04/08/heres_bill.php

FWIW, I'm all for the Red Sox bringing Buckner back for a post-WS ceremonial thing -- the MCs (Castiglione and Orsillo) made WAY too much of BB's contributions, going way overboard to seemingly justify why RSN should forgive a guy that was officially forgiven, as noted, 18 years ago. But it was a nice moment, and certainly a more public show of affection than that Opening Day ovation (for whatever that's worth). Given how many times his name's mentioned, and that stupid pic is shown, this move was probably done for the MSM idiots looking for easy topics of conversation and RSN bandwagon jumpers from the past 5-10 years that probably make up the majority of the BUCKNER MUST DIE group.

Tho I'm pretty sure RSN does mostly consist of "petty, maladjusted, immature spoiled brats," as do most fanbases. (There were actually fans @ Shea that booed Santana's first start. WTF?!?!?)

As I've noted before, "fans" need to be distinguished from "people who go to baseball games."

As for team injuries -- I'm hoping that Lowell's DL stint means he gets pushed down to the 6-hole in favor of JD Drew when he returns.

Because OF COURSE JD Drew is going to give analysts and Plaschkes the gasface and have the 300 / 400 / 500 season that will totally justify the $70 million he signed for.

^^^ hope so ^^^

i don't even really blame stanley - it was schiraldi who, with the bases empty and two outs, loaded them up on three straight singles

but the real culprit isn't the working stuff here it's management - mcnamara - for leaving buckner on the field in the first place, for bringing in stanley, for leaving schiraldi in too long

working stiff

stanley had that wild pitch, though

wild pitch with nobody on = no big deal, unfortunately that was not the situation and that part wasn't stanley's fault (the scorers agree with me)

i think i'm trying to make up for years of stanley-bashing, not sure why

basically i think the team was an above-average team, and if not for mcnamara they would have (improbably) won the world series

the biggest mistake was mcnamara leaving buckner in there instead of replacing him with dave stapleton as he had in every other close game that year. his reasoning being that he wanted a veteran to be on the field when they won. way to count those chickens you gin blossomed fuck.

"There are, obviously, morons everywhere, the Boston area being no exception."

Understatement of the century.

Ha, this rocks.

As a lifelong Sox fan who has been to Boston exactly once, I'm torn between getting a free Manny or Papi jersey from a friend of a friend. Suggestions? O-o-or a Mueller throwback?? Yeah, that's the ticket!

"Free Manny"

mueller = jesus freak so that's a no go for me. you can't really go wrong with either manny or papi.

Hey Lugo, if Wang loads the bases with two consecutive walks after a single, maybe you could take a pitch or two before hacking next time? KThxBye.

this game is fuckin crazy. face sore from wincing at pitching and fielding.

wau at this game

i hope it ends 25-24

it may never end.

ex-cub rule in effect right now

What the shit is with D-list catchers like the ugly Molina bro & CHAD MOELLER getting these pathetic totally-fooled bail-out dinks and dunks all over the place? Chump ass chumps.

</bitter>

Fugly.

This is actually pretty cool.

unwatchable game

Is anybody else's NESN HD feed just unwatchably fucked this year? (Even when Timlin isn't pitching, wahey.)

How you mean? Mine seem OK (tho this is my first year watching NESN HD, and after being stuck w/ regular def last year, I'm all wowowowow).

Also, for GYA aka DC -- get thee to Thee Secret Borad With That Yard Thing when you get a chance.

I dunno - it's just that one channel, and it's super fucking choppy. None of my other HD channels are affected, and regular NESN's ok.

Re the other thing: Jajaja.

Jesus, Moose, stop hitting Ellsbury, will ya?

smoooth

i don't know if i've ever seen a pitcher as snakebit as moose is with the red sox

Jacoby Ellsbury looks like Joe Girardi's illegitimate son.

^^^^ not this

i know why you say that felicity but ellsbury to me has this unmistakable american indian look about him - girardi looks more like a pipefitter

^^^^ that

And the fact that one is a Red Sox and the other a Yankee has nothing to do with it. No sir.

Oops apparently David Ortiz can still hit homers.

Woohoo this team!

And the fact that one is a Red Sox and the other a Yankee has nothing to do with it. No sir.

Girardi looks like my father's father. My father's father looked like a pipefitter. QED.

Separated at Birth: Jock Soto and Dwayne Johnson

http://i29.tinypic.com/2iw9dtw.jpghttp://i25.tinypic.com/103a7g6.jpg

oooh cliff lee is so lonely :(

When does Lowell come off the DL?

the 26th maybe?

Goddammit, if I knew it was Patriot's Day, I would have watched the game instead of wasting my whole frickin' evening.

patriots day = best day to be in boston.

As a lifelong Sox fan who has been to Boston exactly once, I'm torn between getting a free Manny or Papi jersey from a friend of a friend. Suggestions? O-o-or a Mueller throwback?? Yeah, that's the ticket!

-- Leee, Monday, April 14, 2008 9:33 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

I cannot believe you EVER considered getting anything other than a Bill Mueller jersey.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/Piney/Artpadderation/billybaroo.jpg

fuck that right wing jesus freak.

NESN actually mic'd the bullpen so fans can hear the pitchers bang on their dugout w/ the pegs that hold down the bullpen mound tarps.

I love how Ellsbury's swing ends w/ the bat close to the ground -- every time he drops the bat to start running, it's like he's politely placing it there.

jesus this team

I'm going to the game tonight. Is it too much to ask that they keep playing like they have no idea how to lose?

how about this Ellsbury kid huh?

...

Johann who?

^^^^ itching for karmic bitchslap

heh heh

Iwamura's gonna get drilled for that batflip.

Guess not.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2008-04-28-cover-ramirez_N.htm

damn these last two games have been amazing and i HATE the sox

But Scott Downs w/ the game on the line against non-lefties? Really? Any reports on whether Gibby's wearing a FIRE ME JP sandwich board in the dugout?

Daisuke channeling Doc Ellis today...

more like channeling oil can boyd.

But Scott Downs w/ the game on the line against non-lefties? Really?

fwiw Downs proved himself against righties pretty well last year.

just me or is matsusaka a lot CHUBBIER than he used to be?

I've haven't noticed any chub I don't think....used to be as in like last season?

yes

also, he's more tan

Julio Lugo: Walking Glue

I would take a Jeterian lack of range sans DJ's bat over Lugo's tin glove and hollow BA.

pap blows a save. :(

Julio Lugo: Walking Glue

Pap gave up a swinging bunt (I think), a grounder that should've been an out, a sac bunt, another grounder (to drive in the tying run), and a looper just over Lugo's glove (of course). Bleeders and bloops happen, but it helps to not have a walking boot in a key defensive position.

Someone's probably going to pitch a fit about Tito choosing to pitch to Granderson w/ 1B open and one out, tho.

all these details are unknown to me cause i "watch" the games on espn gamecast

The Nation does not approve!

AND Papelbon was clearly trying to walk Polanco. 3-0 pitch was around the chest (called strike). 3-1 was a splitter nearly in the dirt (swinging strike). 3-2 pitch was not exactly a gift.

Cannot fucking believe Leyland allowed the rookie to lead off the 9th.

Actually, no, yes I can.

I HATE JULIO LUGO SO MUCH, I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM

AND Papelbon was clearly trying to walk Polanco.

Meaning "trying to avoid giving him something to hit."

Good morning.

Someone's probably going to pitch a fit about Tito choosing to pitch to Granderson w/ 1B open and one out, tho.

Granderson strikes out about 150 times/year so this was a good call.

i got free tix to see sox/o's on wednesday

cora's back!

i mean with lowrie and cora it's like, fuck a lugo

he has like three years left thought, doesn't he :/

they can afford to eat the contract.

lol lead paint case in RI:

“This court has written 75 decisions on public nuisance,” lawyer John A. MacFadyen said to the justices. “No case has held that a lawfully sold product could be considered a public nuisance.”

To prove public nuisance in Rhode Island, MacFadyen said, it must be shown in a specific, physical place; the nuisance must be under the control of the accused, and it must intrude on the public’s rights.

None of the arguments presented by the state fit those criteria, MacFadyen said. “Even Julio Lugo is catching them better than that.”

From the Globe website:

latest discussion topics
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uhh...

http://soxblog.mlblogs.com/photos/uncategorized/jon_lester.jpg

THAT WAS SO FUCKING RAD

:D

good for Lester and all that, but I'm starting to feel a bit toward no-hitters the way I do hitting for the cycle: big whoop. Lotta luck involved, and often a worse-pitched game than 1- or 2-hitters.

What is the greatest possible luck-less feat you can accomplish in one game of baseball?

What is the greatest possible luck-less feat you can accomplish in one game of baseball?

having morbs not piss on something.

Striking out 27 of 27 hitters on 71 pitches with CB Bucknor behind the plate, facing a hot and 100%-healthy lineup.

81 pitches, that is.

The Mets 2007 choke is much more impressive than a no-no.

Morbius, you kinda ridiculously sound like a bitter old crank here -- even for you.

It's the comment of someone who didn't watch the game. Lester was on another planet from the 5th inning on, put on a clinic on how to pitch, and was blowing away a decent hitting team.

So yeah, fantastic stuff. Lester's career has had such a weird arc to it, and he always seems sort of nonplussed. The cancer thing has been repeated to death but when you see how the entire team reacted and congratulated him it was clear that this was not just a garden-variety no-hitter.

Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

Player 	IP 	H 	R 	ER 	BB 	K 	HR 	BFP 	Pit 	B-S 	ERA 	OpBA

J. Lester (W 3-2)	9.0 	0	0	0	2	9	0	29	130	44 - 86	3.41	.229

come on guys, i mean, HE WALKED TWO BATTERS. that's like a beer league softball effort right there.

morbz is just mad the red sox aren't sharing a thong

The Mets 2007 choke is much more impressive than a no-no.

-- Steve Shasta, Tuesday, May 20, 2008 2:52 PM (51 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

Losses = lame counting stat

I saw the 9th inning on ESPN, cad. kev, I didn't say LESTER pitched a wobbly no-hitter.

Single-game perfs should definitely get you in the Hall, mea culpa. Put Harvey Haddix and Mark Whiten in pronto.

good for Boston and all that, but I'm starting to feel a bit toward championships the way I do hitting for the cycle: big whoop. Lotta luck involved, and often the worse team wins these things.

shouldn't you guys be too busy casting All-Star votes for Dustin Pedroia to zing me?

srch: Lester's Game Score last night vs Pedro's best.

http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/Housing/img/shoveller.gif

morbius you should know i'll be busy stuffing the ballot box for scrappy CUBS MVP RYAN THERIOT

what about NATE McLOUTH?

varitek was lucky enough to be behind the plate for his fourth no-hitter.

What about CUBS MVP GEOVANY "Legs" SOTO?

show me for a a full year, Geo. til then I vote for McCann.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M4BQ5WMZL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

lol the Globe's two headlines for Colon are Coming Up Big and Colon Signing Could Be Huge.

Like to avoid Colon jokes they're just making fat jokes.

http://valdefierro.com/timest47.jpg

of course there's luck involved, morbius, though not as much luck as in a perfect game. the crazy fortuitous luck is part of what's being celebrated

just telling my dad that i've never understood why tito isn't quicker with the hook when wakefield's pitching because he's so OBVIOUSLY feast or famine - just yank him early! get some long relievers some work! - and immediately mark ellis makes it 7-0 with one swing of the bat, knocking in thomas and sweeney

Seriously, it's a total mystery to me why Wakefield isn't a long man at this point. You can abuse the guy's arm and it's never gonna fall off; it's also immediately fucking apparent to everybody when he doesn't have it. It happens.

If memory serves, I believe Wakefield was shut down for most of the '07 playoffs because of shoulder issues. He's not a young dude anymore, and I think the idea that he can be jerked around easily is less credible with each passing year.

Somewhat related, they televised the PawSox game yesterday featuring young knuckleballer Charlie Zink. He's been toiling in the Sox system for a few years and has gone in and out of being good. Knuckleballers seem to take a long time to develop, so we may have a Wakefield heir at some point.

Seriously, it's a total mystery to me why Wakefield isn't a long man at this point.

Because Varitek can't catch Wakefield.

^ yup

So this Daisuke injury is a bit troubling, yes?

time to stretch okajima into a starter

OK in the game two days ago - wtf is Lugo doing arguing with the ump over balls and strikes when he's PLAYING SHORTSTOP AT THE TIME?? jesus that guy has anger issues

also, poor wakey

time to stretch okajima into a starter

-- johnny crunch, Wednesday, May 28, 2008 11:21 AM (Wednesday, May 28, 2008 11:21 AM) Bookmark Link

naw, bring masterson back up!

done and done

of course now there's another minor problem

BOSTON'S COCO CRISP AND TAMPA BAYS' JAMES SHIELDS WERE EJECTED BY HOME PLATE UMPIRE JEFF KELLOGG FOR FIGHTING AFTER CRISP WAS HIT BY A PITCH FROM SHIELDS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SECOND INNING.

TAMPA BAY'S JONNY GOMES WAS EJECTED BY HOME PLATE UMPIRE JEFF KELLOGG FOR THROWING PUNCHES DURING A FIGHT IN BOTTOM OF THE SECOND INNING.

Youkilis and Ramirez were going at it in the dugout -- just now.

also ellsbury and manny pulled with injuries

what a game

goddamnit, i'm watching the c's game. DON'T MELT DOWN BOSOX.

what the hell happened between manny and youk?

damn johnny gomes wants to FITE

Crisp was asked to explain what happened after being hit by pitch thrown by Rays starter James Shields in the second inning.

“I charged the mound. I feigned it like I was going to go to first base, just to get Navarro off me a little bit, and just charged the mound,” Crisp said. “He tried to hit me with a haymaker. He missed. I threw a punch. I pretty much missed. And the rest, went down to the ground… like the scratches on my face were people trying to scratch like we were playing football or something, like little girls, trying to scratch out my eyes. I move one hand down, scratch me right here [points to scratch to the right of his nose]. “

“After that, people were trying to pull my hair like little girls. Instead of throwing some real punches or something like that… I’m down on the ground, I mean the fight’s pretty much over baseball-term wise. You wanna come in late, and throw some extra blows and get your little blows in, that’s cool. I’ll cover up. It’s all good, trying to pull some hair. It’s all right. It was between me and Shields that time and everybody tried to get their little blows in I think even more… he was unsure if he really wanted to hit me or not it seemed like, but ‘cause he didn’t really hit me hard.

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/06/05/1212708647_0084.jpg

wtf happened w youk and manny is what i wanna know

wow - i really wish i had cable. must find a way to see these highlights!

so what did crisp do wednesday that pissed off sheilds so much?

xpost

Who knows how long this will stay up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxpg8R_-pnY

so what did crisp do wednesday that pissed off sheilds so much?

crisp tried to take out iwamura with a hard slide in retaliation for bartlett putting his leg in front of the base on a steal where crisp slid head first. later in that game (2 days ago) the TB manager apparently said something (not very nice) to crisp as he was walking to the mound.

wow - i really wish i had cable. must find a way to see these highlights!

-- The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Friday, June 6, 2008 5:37 AM (8 hours ago) Bookmark Link

Here you go:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200806052848893

Half of Tampa Bay is gonna get suspended after that one, I gotta think.

For the Rays, James Shields received six games; Jonny Gomes, five; Edwin Jackson, five; Carl Crawford, four; and Akinori Iwamura, three.

And for the Red Sox, Coco Crisp received seven; Jon Lester, five; and Sean Casey, three.

NESN pre-game has had some tremendous montages w/ a things "heating up" theme & mixing in McLarren's tirade w/ clips of other meltdowns too(lol denny green)

it's nice to finally see the sox losing @ fenway. colon was abt ready to throw his glove after missing a fieldable grounder and 2 E1's already.

Manny's tired of dodging Youk's shit after bad ABs.

MANNY FUCKING REGULATES THE DUGOUT!!!

that's some hunter s. thompson/william s. burrough's shit right there.

Had to surrender box seats on Saturday to move up to SRO under the roof.

I really hate people who talk about the weather, but seriously, it's hot out there.

(Although Manny's bomb was awesome.)

guess who's america's newest citizen?

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/06/11/1213213917_0560.jpg

there was a swearing in ceremony going on in daley plaza this morning when i got off the blue line. papi was sworn in at the jfk library in boston.

Guess who's putting up this line for Boston (entering today's action):

.315 / .424 / .576

Doing more shockingly well: J.D. Drew or Sean Casey

The Mayor stole a bag last night!!@!!!!!

I'm not complaining, what with the Cubs' cupcake inter-league schedule this year.

-- felicity, Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:46 AM (2 months ago) Bookmark Link

Haha, so ^^^ this is where the trouble began.

Ok, now I'm complaining. ;)

The Mayor stole a bag last night!!@!!!!!

-- David R., Wednesday, 18 June 2008 18:04 (36 minutes ago) Link

The last time: i ate 10 tacos next to jeff weaver last night

Fenway rain delay entertainment: Papelbon & Delcarmen as Milli Vanilli (in dreads) lipsyncing to "Blame it on the Rain"!!!!!!!!!!!!

dice k doesn't make it out of the second. :(

also, i really want someone to beat tim mccarver into a coma.

c'mon "catchers don't wear tight pants" was great insight

"he's such a delightful young man" is even better.

it's the CARDINAL tim, the stanford CARDINAL, like the color. not CARDINALS like plural birds.

did they just imply that ralph kiner fucked elizabeth taylor?

Nifty pitcher's duel tonite that the Sox are getting the worse of--Beckett vs. Haren. Haren is really a fantastic pitcher.

Bench Varitek!!!

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080626/capt.8eee0275a94e458797d72c8daf341466.diamondbacks_red_sox_baseball_maea108.jpg

your chance to participate in the red sox midseason report card.

also, this is a great shot:

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2008/06/26/1214493002_4619.jpg

ENOUGH ABOUT THE FIGHT ALREADY

hot damn 3 one-run losses in a row! :D

Bullpen? Bullpen. Also: Dice-K not getting past the 5th once again because he can't help but nibble.

You can tell Dioner Navarro was a product of the Yankees farm system by the way he fistpumps.

i believe the yankees have hired kirk gibson as a roving fist pump instructor.

kev, my understanding is Kiner went on ONE DATE w/ Elizabeth Taylor, which came up on his Met broadcasts at least twice a season.

the way those two fucking knuckleheads were babbling they did, in fact, insinuate that kiner fucked her. i really wish something bad and permanent would happen to both of buck and mccarver.

Mark Citrone (Parents' Basement): Is there any way to empirically measure someone's "game-calling ability" KLaw? Varitek's recent 2-for-800 streak at the plate is tough to swallow, but the cliche-spewing elite always talk about his Jeteresque intangibles.

Keith Law: (1:06 PM ET ) I've never seen an empirical measurement that found a statistically significant benefit. And Varitek looks done at the plate.

i've never seen africa but i don't doubt it's out there.

K-Law in being sort of obtuse shockah.

really? V-tek out-clutchy-calls his abysmal batting line?

Of course not, but K-Law should probably be open to the possibility that game calling matters and is just an extremely hard thing to study.

Since he's the "smart stat guy" baseball chatter on ESPN he's gotta bust an answer like that every so often.

He did not say "game calling doesn't matter," you notice.

I do notice, I just get annoyed when Law answers like a stats douche. And then he immediately follows up w/"Varitek looks done at the plate."

Varitek OPS by month:

Sept 07: .843
April 08: .809
May 08: .913
June 08: .381

It's a hell of a slump and maybe the edge of the cliff, but still too small a sample for conclusions.

Law is a douche though! He prides himself on it!

Also the second argument is an observational one.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/07/04/sports/sox_4500.11.jpg

ESPN Insider is reporting that Bonds was in NYC this weekend working out, taking BP and running drills for Sox scouts and mgmt.

Peter Gammons confirms but adds it's not likely they would come to an agreement (?)

Jackie Robinson all over again *snerk*

number nine of the globe's list of 10 things to watch for in the second half:

After some grueling first-half travel that included a trip to Japan and three 10-game road trips, the Sox have just one 10-game road trip left, and just one trip to the West Coast, which takes place just after the break. They also play 16 of their final 25 games of the season at home, where they're a major league-best 36-11. On the road, the Sox are a disappointing 21-29.

Have you heard this "Down at Fenway Park" Ira Kaplan spun on WFMU last week? (1/3 from end of show)

http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/27900

I lol'd at Mirabelli shoutout.

Wanna know what I wish? I wish Buchholz pitched *well* last night.

THANKS TITO

Why blame Tito when Ellsbury, Lowell and Drew went a collective 3-37 for the series (.081) ?

because ellsbury lowell and drew are awesome, what does tito do, just chaws tobacco and farts around and LEAVES WAKEFIELD IN TOO LONG ALL THE DAMN TIME

i think it's churlish to blame players for their performance over a three-game series, as a statistician you would surely agree

why is lowrie playing tonight? is he any good?

he's a lefty, is the the reason, i'd imagine.

"Get ahead, go from there," said Lester, who smiled when asked about an earlier visit to the mound by Francona and Lessard, after he appeared to be in some discomfort. Turns out it was a wardrobe malfunction.

intriguing

They were saying on NESN it was an athletic supporter issue I think?

oh, that Manny tumble the other night.

xxp: lowrie's a switch hitter actually

lugo's out injured for a month or so, so i guess they want to see if lowrie's ready for the majors yet since he could potentially be a better hitter than lugo

do people expect him to be the everyday ss for the sox in the future?

it's a possibility for sure

do people expect him to be the everyday ss for the sox in the future?

that was probably the reasoning behind drafting him in the first round.

throwing accuracy may prompt a move to 2nd base.

I've seen Lowrie rated no higher than an average ML SS and occasionally as much worse than that. If he's around average and he hits I think he could play every day. However 2B and 3B are pretty well set for the next couple years so not sure what they would do with him if he has to move.

The Lugo contract is truly brutal.

not many teams will field all stars at every position, if his offensive production can make up for his defensive limitations he'll play. the sox got by with johnny damon for a couple of years.

do people expect him to be the everyday ss for the sox in the future?

that was probably the reasoning behind drafting him in the first round.

didn't they have hanley ramirez at that time?

You don't really do the baseball draft by positional need--he was probably the best available player to them at the time, based on organizational philosophy and signability.

Damon was at least an average CF--we all know he couldn't throw but I don't think the team was being hurt by playing him in the field.

yeah, that's my point. if he can be average he'll be their everyday shortstop, if he's below average in the field his contributions at the plate will have to outweigh the damage he does on d.

ellsbury has been one of the worst OFs in baseball for a couple months now, there is something seriously wrong with the kid

I know ;_;

i haven't been paying much attention lately - do you mean with the bat, or with the glove as well?

Atrocious with the bad, average with the glove. Seriously he is beyond lost at the plate.

good typo

the bat tracer - ill post the splits in a couple mins, its ridiculous

april-may -- bb/k: 27/19, .282, 4 HR 5 2B 3 3B 26 SB 2 CS

june-july -- bb/k: 5/32, .243, 1 HR 6 2B 1 3B 9 SB 5 CS

last 7 games -- bb/k: 0/5, .118/.167/.118 0 SB

i'm not worried about that, he's still basically a rookie. everybody has to make adjustments once they get to the majors. he's too good not to come around.

/joemorgan

"We won't know for sure until we find out."

The knee-jerk reaction to those numbers is that he needs his eyes checked -- or that he's trying to do too much/not being nearly selective enough.

He's having really, really bad at-bats. Swinging at pitches no one should go after and taking good pitches to hit for strikes. His issues are at least part mental--he's not sure when to be aggressive, when to work a walk, and what he should be trying to do as a hitter. Pitchers are recognizing and having a field day with it.

Once Ortiz comes back they'll be able to drop him in the order, which for some reason can be good medicine in situations like this.

haha Jimmy touché

I'll be interested to se the lineup tonight.

seE

my wishlist for AL playoffs: Rays, Twins, White Sox, Angels. ALCS in the Minn & Tampa Bay domes forces Joe Buck to leave the booth in Game 2 and vanish.

Twins

You say you love baseball, yet you want this fundamentally slap-happy group of faux-hustling small-ballers to get swept in the 1st round?

I like to see small-market atrocity ball in the AL postseason (no "cathedrals of baseball")

Well this Bay kid's not bad, is he?

he's no x-man

Not bad at all, and contributing to the highly intimidating whitewash in the middle of our order.

When did Big Papi get bleached?

Well he's feeling more clicking in his wrist so just wait for the callup of Chris Carter or some terrible shit.

Papi on DL = 0.0000000000005% of BARRY IN BEANTOWN

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/08/04/fuzzy_picture_on_pitcher/?page=2

. . . Dustin Pedroia has been wearing a Kevin Cash shirt he bought on sale at Twins . . .

In the latest ESPN The Magazine (which I receive for unknown reasons) there's an article about Pedroia. Seems that there's a running joke where he really wants to fight Cash. Basically he is a crazy person.

Fuck me -- that's supposed to be a CHANCE of BARRY back up there.

Supposedly Tito's thinking of moving Ellsbury back up to the leadoff slot -- personally, I'd rather have Peddi / Youk back at 1-2 for the rest of the year, among other changes. Maybe (assuming good health) something like:

Pedroia (R)
Youkilis (R)
Ortiz (L)
Bay (R)
Drew (L)
Lowell (R)
Lowrie (S)
Varitek (S)
Ellsbury (L) / Crisp (S)

& if Papi is actually DL-bound again, move Lowrie into the 2 hole, put Youk in the 3 spot, and just pencil in Casey (or whatever) 8th.

Yeah that's a good lineup. Plan on Ellsbury continuing to suck for a while --I saw some research today indicating that his ability to hit fastballs anywhere in the zone is more or less nonexistent. He's not even really running anymore and it doesn't seem like getting dropped down did anything special.

Ha -- supposedly, it's been Ellsbury's post-demotion performance that's inspiring Tito to move him back up!

j.d. drew led off last night :/

i'm not quite sure why they're putting bay 5th instead of 4th or 3rd

Yeah, last night's Lowell-free lineup was all sorts of goofy, tho I think Drew has the best OBP of anyone on the team (except maybe Youk), so having him leading off ain't so odd. Decentralizing the lineup because MIKE LOWELL is out, OTOH...

ellsbury over the last 7 days: .125/.125/.125 .250 OPS 3K 0BB

whats wrong w/ drew leading off??

Well third is Ortiz's spot until hell freezes over. Bay should eventually bat fourth but feel like batting him 5th or 6th is easing him in for whatever reason. Drew is really not a bad leadoff hitter at all. I think a lot of people could go for Youkilis 3rd/Ortiz 4th, but Papi bats where he wants.

Lineup construction doesn't matter too much but it sure is fun to chat about.

pedroia article

"And he has very little natural ability. When you think of the amount of swagger he's got, at 5'3", how can you not love a guy like that?"

nice.

I take a little issue with that, though it is a nice statement. Dude's hand/eye coordination is sick and very much god-given.

1) he's not 5'3

2) as cad points out he's got plenty of natural ability

3) fuck this nu-David Eckstein bullshit

guys i think kevin millar was "taking the piss"

more like "drinking the piss" amirite?

I didn't read the article and having now read the beginning I wish I hadn't.

Eh, I dug the parts where Pedroia ran around talking shit but let's not overthink this right?

NESN really needs to cio w/ the original programming, especially when the programming involves FRANK CALIENDO

The dude who's hosting that comedy show looks like Paul Dinello if Paul Dinello liked to hang out at the Kowloon in Saugus.

http://www.kowloonrestaurant.com/shows/frnksnts.jpg

They're also really missing the boat by not bringing in Frank Santos, the R-Rated Hypnotist.

i have actually seen frank santos. and "dr. dirty" john valpe.

dear christ.

"sprrrring time's a time for laaaaughter..... so sit on a happy face."

Of the remaining 48 games: 25 home, 23 away, 8 opponents' winning pct. .522 (http://www.coolstandings.com/baseball_team.asp?id=BOS&sn=2008). Sox record to date vs. 8 opponents: 32-22

Rays: 50 games remaining: 20 H, 30 A, 12 opponents' W pct: .515. (http://www.coolstandings.com/baseball_team.asp?id=TB&sn=2008). Rays record to date vs. 12 opponents: 50-36

NYY: 49 games remaining: 19 H, 30 A, 11 opponents' W pct: .533. (http://www.coolstandings.com/baseball_team.asp?id=NYY&sn=2008). Yanks record to date vs. 11 opponents: 43-39

Predictions?

D-Rays & Sox maintain, Yankees flop despite 11th-hour acquisitions of Jarrod Washburn, Brian Fuentes, and Oscar Azocar. Kazmir wins his final 5 starts of the season. Damon will come up lame. Wang will try to make a September start & get shelled. I will lose my shit whenever Dice-K turns an 0-2 count into a burgeoning walk and/or when Mike Timlin enters a game.

I lol'd in CT last weekend when I saw that NESN's bank commercials w/ Jerry Remy have same script as Ron Darling's for SportsNY.

Hah that's excellent.

Tampa are sub-.500 on the road and play 60% of their remaining games on the road? Normally that would mean something, but crazy home-road splits are the norm throughout baseball this year.

I'm eagerly awaiting Ron Darling's air guitar Sovereign ad!

This Jason Bay "double" was crazy:

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200808053259781

whoa that is neat

A friend of mine predicted yesterday that the Sox will clinch on Sep. 24 when Alex Cora laces a shot to center that hits the wall, bounces straight up, rolls for 25 feet along the top of the wall, glances off the glove of Jackie Gutierrez, and is borne over the fence by the soundwaves emanating from the Manny Delcarmen Fife & Drum Corps.

kazmir is not looking too hot today

Whoa -- Ellsbury just went deep to CF against exemplary lefty-killer Ron Mahay! Thank you KC!

brian giles to the bosox?

more likely brian giles not to the drays -- what would they do w/ him?

Yeah--I was surprised to learn what kind of year he was having. Hopefully something can be worked out as he'd be a nice addition.

First and foremost he's Ortiz insurance. They would only have to mess around w/the current roster for three weeks before expansion. There's also whatever is up with Lowell--I wonder if he can play any 1B?

Knuckleballer Charlie Zink will start tomorrow night against the Rangers in place of the injured Tim Wakefield. The 28-year-old Zink is 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA in 25 games with Pawtucket this season.

Oh shit!

Might have to watch this game live, ffwd through Tiger game later.

The concept of a knuckleballer named Charlie Zink still sounds like a 100% fabrication.

"It just gradually kept getting better and better," Zink said two weeks ago. "Now it's finally to the point where I'm not ever worried about throwing a ball. Full counts, I'll throw a knuckleball still."

SWOOOON

http://www.projo.com/photos/20080528/sp0528_zink_05-28-08_LOA9TGH.jpg

looks kinda like actor Brian Cox there.

starting on 3 days rest

At least he managed to play it close to the vest, per Projo:

“This is everything I have ever dreamed of,” he said. “It has come true now and I’m going to the major leagues. It’s ridiculous. I’m at a loss for words. I really don’t know what to say about it. I’ll be smiling forever now. This is just awesome. Awesome!”

Awww.

Zink's pitched on three days' rest three times this year in Pawtucket; in those starts he's 2-0 with one earned run in 15 1/3 innings, with 13/8 K/BB.

He's also the oldest starting pitcher to make his ML debut with the Red Sox since Dana Kiecker.

He's also the oldest starting pitcher to make his ML debut with the Red Sox since Dana Kiecker.

way to take the shine off it, gya.

If the oeuvre of Kevin Costner has taught me nothing, it's that aging starting pitchers are a great national resource and should be cherished accordingly.

he was a catcher in bull durham. did he ever play a pitcher?

in a shitty Sam Raimi flick!

There is no funny way for Bostonians to say "Zink."

they'll have to make do with "Chaaaah-lee."

Annnnd Sox acquire Paul Byrd. I know this is a good baseball move, but it's not much of a baseball fan move.

Zink may not be long for the big town..

How about a knuckler in the pen for when the roster expand, though?

Zink may not be long for the big town..

-- Tracer Hand, Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:46 PM (Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:46 PM) Bookmark Link

clay better pull his head out of his ass or else he may be returning charlie's rental car to pawtucket.

Don't leave yr laptop, Charlie.

holy shit

!!

haha -- the ump with the mercy punchout on Youk

I would say that all Zink has to do now is throw strikes, but ...

There is no funny way for Bostonians to say "Zink."

-- Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 12 August 2008 18:48 (5 hours ago) Link

Listening to NESN, I thought his name was Zing.

hmmmmmmmm

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

L
O
L

this is the greatest game of all time

they TOOK the fucking LEAD?

holy shit

man i love this sport.

lol?

what the shit!

http://www.atf.gov/kids/graphics/art_contest/dsc_554820%25.jpg

FIELD GOAL!

I'm eagerly awaiting Texas' 5-run homer in the 9th.

wtf happened last night!??!

Gah why did I think this game was tonight??

You thought Ortiz was going to hit two three-run homers in the first inning only to have the Sox lose a ten-run lead only to eventually regain it by going up 19-17 tonight?

Watching this game was a wise choice.

I guess the knuckler didn't zink in the 5th inning?

lol anticlimax: tonight's game on ESPN.

Sounds like the umps robbed him in the 5th.

yeah the 3rd bomb looked like it might have hit the top of the wall if there were no people there

transcript of the gammons chat on boston.com today.

ugh still 10 more games against these guys

are you referring to the mighty blue jays!?

jason bay

schilling to retire? the blogosphere cringes...

BALTIMORE -- In the wake of the revelation by Terry Francona that Josh Beckett has been experiencing tingling and numbness in his right arm since Sunday, Beckett addressed the media in the visiting clubhouse here in Baltimore.

Beckett will be pushed back from Saturday to Tuesday because of the issue, and is undergoing tests to attempt to determine the source of the problem. Beckett said he slept awkwardly on the arm before Sunday's start against the Blue Jays, a start in which he gave up 8 runs in 2 2/3 innings.

"Just something I've been dealing with," Beckett said. "At some point in time, just got to figure out what the (heck) it is. Obviously it's not what I want, but I think at this juncture it's something that needs to happen. Obviously there's something going on."

"I'm going to continue my current day-off regimen with my Happy Fun Ball."

One of the least-pleasant 7-2 wins in recent memory.

Heaven help the AL if Dice-K learns how to get through a start w/out averaging 25 pitches per inning.

so what stats make Dice-k's 15-2, 2.77 era season less impressive?

4.21 FIP
5.06 xFIP
HR/9: 2007 1.1, 2008 .56

Twins are AWFULLY CLOSE in those WC standings...

"Just something I've been dealing with,"

In layman's terms -- he's skating on thin ice allowing so many free baserunners (AKA walks) and only getting away w/ it because his hit rate (and HR rate) has been ridiculous (and he still has a 1.37 WHIP). And he's killing the bullpen by failing to make it past the 6th inning on a regular basis -- he's failed to go at least 6 ELEVEN TIMES out of 22 this year (team record in those starts, tho = 7-4).

(xpost)

Twins are AWFULLY CLOSE in those WC standings...

yeah, that will be really satisfying when they're watching the playoffs. "man, we were AWFULLY CLOSE".

Fuck, Drew to DL, Joe Thurston called up. Kotsay pls, I guess....

football season = me not even checking box scores anymore.

lol @ Jack Nicholson in the crowd @ Yankee Stadium wearing a Yankee hat

also, lol @ Boston's 3B coach pulling a Sveum, getting Jason Bay thrown out @ home by 30 feet

also also, lol @ boxseat goobers gawking @ NESN report Heidi Watney -- so not gonna happen

Ask and you shall receive re: Kotsay

PEDDI CRACK

lmbo

“I never thought I would walk a jockey,” said Guillen after the 8-2 loss. “I must be the worst manager ever in the history of baseball right now, walking a guy that just came from being on the top of Big Brown to beat the White Sox. Right now, he’s on a roll.

“I get opportunities to walk him to face Big Papi, I will do it, whoever hits in front of him. This guy right now is on fire. No matter what you throw there he’s going to get it. I can’t believe it, you can change professions from one year to another. To go from the Kentucky Derby to the Boston Red Sox ballpark and perform, that’s amazing.”

http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/08/22/03/3117-72/index.xml

“He’s the best. He’s the best of the best. He’s the best thing that ever happened to this ballclub,” Ortiz said. “He’s a -expletive- great kid, dude. He’s the best. I love him. It’s great, man. I talk about Pedroia all the time to everybody because of how little he is and the way he plays the game.

“And I’ll be like, ‘Dude, seriously, he’s a bad little kid.’ Pedroia is always going to be like a 16- or 17-year-old because he’s little and he’s got a baby face, but he just rakes. Dude, he comes up with some lines, and you’ll be laughing. He hit a ball off the Green Monster once, and he came back to the dugout and said to me, ‘Hey, Big Punish, you know it’s going to rain, right?’ And I was like, ‘Why?’ He goes, ‘Didn’t you just see the lightning show?’”

You wouldn't see Manny round first base on a single like that, would you? WOULD YOU?

And now the kid just SLID into second base. Wow.

This guy right now is on fire. No matter what you throw there he’s going to get it. I can’t believe it, you can change professions from one year to another. To go from the Kentucky Derby to the Boston Red Sox ballpark and perform, that’s amazing.

LOOOL

that was a nice ballgame last night

If I didn't know any better, Morbs, I'd say you're itching to do to this thread what Shasta did to the Mets thread. DON'T DO IT.

Also, Boston & Tampa are locks for the playoffs, so nyeah.

This series was a thrilling series, I can't wait for the playoffs.

Sox / Sox / Angels / Rays

That is a damn good lineup

No DR, I'm not that base.

LOVED Sutcliffe's argument last night that DHs should be ineligible for the batting title (or was it MVP?) (probably both) (take away each World Series ring while you're at it).

i would go one further and suggest that any player who gets a hit while DHing should be automatically called out.

yeah, I think I said aloud "you fucking undeserving Cy Young-winning mouthbreathing choad" when I heard that DH / batting title thing.

i picked an interesting night for my one trip to fenway this year :/

i got to move way up front after everyone started leaving though which was neat

My predictions, from August 6:

D-Rays & Sox maintain, Yankees flop despite 11th-hour acquisitions of Jarrod Washburn, Brian Fuentes, and Oscar Azocar. Kazmir wins his final 5 starts of the season. Damon will come up lame. Wang will try to make a September start & get shelled. I will lose my shit whenever Dice-K turns an 0-2 count into a burgeoning walk and/or when Mike Timlin enters a game.

Whither Azocar?

Chris (NJ): You watch the sox game last night on the NESN feed? Remy illustrated a called strike to Bay on that video strike zone thing, and the ball wasn't even on my TV screen. How bad was that ump? Ever a situation where after a game or series of game MLB tells an ump that he's done for the year?

Keith Law: (1:26 PM ET ) The HP ump was horrendous, and the crew blew at least two calls in the field. It was like having Doug Eddings at every position. Not that you'd want a competent crew in a game that unimportant.

"I never thought I'd walk a jockey" lol I hope Guillen coaches those guys forever.

Wakefield with a masterpiece in the rain tonight. 8 inning, three-hit shutout. Really big win with a doubleheader tomorrow.

C. Carter LF
K. Cash 3B
J. Bailey DH
A. Cora 2B
S. Casey 1B
J. Van Every RF
J. Lowrie SS
G. Kottaras C
C. Crisp CF

the boston red sox

Lester has gold-plated balls

I luv'im

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/18f309fa-c913-4d3a-9a7d-6733063a8d38.jpg

A friend of mine predicted yesterday that the Sox will clinch on Sep. 24 when Alex Cora laces a shot to center that hits the wall, bounces straight up, rolls for 25 feet along the top of the wall, glances off the glove of Jackie Gutierrez, and is borne over the fence by the soundwaves emanating from the Manny Delcarmen Fife & Drum Corps.

― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, August 6, 2008 5:09 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i wanted to believe...

Tony Maz, in the Globe, sez:

"Win or lose, the end of every baseball season inevitably leaves us wondering what will happen next. The 2008 Red Sox ultimately won 101 games and came within five victories of a fifth world title during a five-year span, and yet we can only wonder how close they really were. Minus the final three innings of historic Game 5 of the ALCS, the 2008 Sox batted a mere .226 and slugged just .374 in 11 postseason games. Once the Sox got past the No. 6 spot in their batting order, it was safe to walk the dog.

I take his point about the sluggish hitting in the postseason, but the fact is, we know exactly "how close they really were". The Sox didn't get eliminated because, ultimately, they were out of their league playing the Rays. They got eliminated because, in a stretch of seven baseball games with a good team, they lost four while winning only three.

... and didn't look good doing it.

...which tends to happen when you lose.